PLAYER RATINGS | SC Freiburg 2-1 1.FC Köln – A first half double secures the three points for Julian Schuster’s side | OneFootball

The Bundesliga weekend wrapped up in Baden-Württemberg, where 8th-placed Freiburg met 10th-placed Köln at the Europa-Park Stadion.

In the race for European places, Freiburg sat seven points adrift of 6th-placed Leverkusen and would leapfrog Eintracht Frankfurt with a win. Köln, meanwhile, have enjoyed a solid if not spectacular return to the Bundesliga since their promotion last summer, sat comfortably in mid-table, five points above the relegation play-off spot coming into this one.

Both teams made five changes from their respective games last weekend in an attempt to freshen things up. Freiburg played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Augsburg, Köln returned to winning ways after nine games without victory at home to Mainz.

After a frantic opening 10 minutes in which both sides fired multiple efforts on goal, the visitors took the lead when Linton Maina’s cross was met by Max Rosenfelder, who inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving Noah Atubolu no chance in the Freiburg goal.

Köln’s lead lasted just 92 seconds, with Freiburg hitting back instantly. A game of pinball on the edge of Köln’s defensive third saw the ball fall to Yuito Suzuki, who slipped a beautiful through ball into the path of Derry Scherhant. The 23-year-old lifted the ball superbly over the onrushing Marvin Schwäbe.

Moments before half-time, the home side put themselves in front through Igor Matanović. Jan-Niklas Beste picked out his teammate with a whipped delivery. The Croatian’s initial effort was blocked, but he reacted quickest to fire in the rebound.

Köln began the second half with real intent and had two chances to equalise through Ragnar Ache. The forward sent the first of his headed efforts wide, with the second flying over the crossbar.

The game ebbed and flowed, with Freiburg not content to sit on their one-goal advantage. Midway through the second half, they had the chance to double their lead when they were awarded a controversial penalty following some excellent forward play from Yuito Suzuki. Matanović was made to wait before taking the spot kick, resulting in a tame effort that Marvin Schwäbe was able to save comfortably.

The penalty save provided Köln with renewed vigour. They pushed for an equaliser and created some promising opportunities. A free kick on the edge of the box looked perhaps too close to lift over the wall, but Alessio Castro-Montes tried his luck anyway, sending his effort over. Moments later, Marius Bülter’s header also failed to find the target.

Freiburg would see out the win, much to the relief of Julian Schuster, as his side closed the gap to the European places to four points.

Freiburg 2–1 Köln | Player Ratings

Freiburg:

Noah Atubolu (7), Lukas Kübler (6), Matthias Ginter (7), Max Rosenfelder (5), Philipp Treu (6), Maximilian Eggestein (6), Patrick Osterhage (6), Jan-Niklas Beste (6), Yuito Suzuki (8), Derry Scherhant (7), Igor Matanović (6)

Others: Christian Günter (6), Bruno Ogbus (6), Nicolas Höfler (6), Vincenzo Grifo (-), Lucas Höler (-)

Köln:

Marvin Schwäbe (7), Alessio Castro-Montes (6), Sebastian Sebulonsen (6), Rav Van Den Berg (5), Kristoffer Lund (6), Jakub Kamiński (6), Tom Krauß (6), Jan Thielman (6), Linton Maina (6), Ragnar Ache (5), Marius Bülter (5)

Others: Said El Mala (5), Eric Martel (-), Ísak Jóhannesson (-), Luca Waldschmidt (-), Fynn Schenten (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Yuito Suzuki (7)

An impressive performance from the Suzuki who really showcased his talents this afternoon. The Japanese set up Derry Scherhant with an excellent through ball for the equaliser, and without his work in the build-up they wouldn’t have won the penalty.

The 24-year-old completed 100% of his dribbles, completed four passes into the final third and won 100% of his ground duels (via Fotmob).

GGFN | Harry Good